Week 13 ACC Power rankings: Pitt has a chance to make history
The ACC’s regular season is almost over.
There’s just one week left before conference title games are set, and several teams in the ACC have already played their final conference game.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the updated power rankings for Week 13:
14. Duke Blue Devils
Duke was non-competitive again this week in a blowout loss to Louisville on Thursday night. Malik Cunningham is good, but the Blue Devils made him look like peak Lamar Jackson.
13. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Things are not going well for Geoff Collins and Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets are stumbling toward their third straight 3-win season under Collins, and this week’s 55-0 loss to Notre Dame represents a new low during his tenure.
12. Syracuse Orange
After playing several close games vs. quality ACC opposition in the middle of the season, the Orange have taken a step back. They’ve now been blown out in back-to-back weeks by Louisville and NC State. A bowl game is on the line this week vs. Pitt.
11. Virginia Tech Hokies
Virginia Tech fought hard in its first game without Justin Fuente, but it just didn’t have enough juice to overcome Miami’s high-powered offense. That program is focused on the future right now, but they’re playing for a bowl game in Week 13 vs. rival Virginia.
10. Boston College Eagles
Boston College nearly upset Florida State on Saturday but came up a field goal short. Things are trending in the right direction for coach Jeff Hafley.
9. North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina faced Wofford in Week 12, so it wasn’t much of a test. The Tar Heels might be able to play spoiler vs. rival NC State on Black Friday. The Wolfpack must win that game in order to keep hope alive of winning the division.
8. Louisville Cardinals
Two straight blowout wins for Malik Cunningham and the Cardinals. This is a young offense that is figuring things out late in the season. Could be a dangerous team in bowl season.
7. Florida State Seminoles
Florida State hasn’t stopped fighting for Mike Norvell. We’ll see if that culture can translate to another rivalry win on Saturday in Gainesville. Both teams will be playing for a bowl game.
6. Miami Hurricanes
Miami’s offense with Tyler Van Dyke, Charleston Rambo and Jaylan Knighton is nearly unstoppable. It’s been the best trio in the ACC over the second half of the season, and it’s not particularly close.
5. Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia and Brennan Armstrong made a valiant effort, but came up short on Saturday vs. Pitt in a game that was essentially for the division title. The Cavaliers can still spoil bowl eligibility for Virginia Tech this week.
4. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Wake Forest drops to No. 4 after getting out-classed by Clemson last week. Still, the Demon Deacons can clinch an ACC title with a win over Boston College on Saturday thanks to the work they did earlier in the season.
3. Clemson Tigers
Clemson has looked like a new team over the last month. Even with a shorthanded receiving corps last week, they scored a whopping 48 points on Wake Forest in a game that both teams needed to win. If Clemson squeaks into the ACC title game, look out.
2. North Carolina State Wolfpack
NC State has rebounded from a disappointing loss to Wake Forest a couple weeks ago. The Wolfpack will win the ACC Atlantic if 1) they defeat North Carolina on Friday and 2) Wake Forest loses to Boston College.
1. Pittsburgh Panthers
Pitt has clinched the ACC Coastal title and a berth in the conference title game. The Panthers have never won the ACC and have only appeared in the ACC title game once. Pitt will likely be favored in the title game unless Clemson finds a way to win the Atlantic.